Hoshea
    salvation. (1.) The original name of the son of Nun, afterwards
    called Joshua (Num. 13:8, 16; Deut. 32:44).

      (2.) 1 Chr. 27:20. The ruler of Ephraim in David's time.

      (3.) The last king of Israel. He conspired against and slew
    his predecessor, Pekah (Isa. 7:16), but did not ascend the
    throne till after an interregnum of warfare of eight years (2
    Kings 17:1, 2). Soon after this he submitted to Shalmaneser, the
    Assyrian king, who a second time invaded the land to punish
    Hoshea, because of his withholding tribute which he had promised
    to pay. A second revolt brought back the Assyrian king Sargon,
    who besieged Samaria, and carried the ten tribes away beyond the
    Euphrates, B.C. 720 (2 Kings 17:5, 6; 18:9-12). No more is heard
    of Hoshea. He disappeared like "foam upon the water" (Hos. 10:7;
    13:11).